Beneficiaries Lauds SCTP in Ntcheu

Beneficiaries of the Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP) locally known as Mtukula Pakhomo in Ntcheu said the program has transformed their livelihood from rags to riches.

One of the beneficiaries, Mercy Magwaya from Matchereza cluster in the area of Sub Traditional Authority (STA) Tsikulamowa said the cash transfers have enabled her to own livestock’s like goats.

Magwaya a mother of three children said she was enrolled into the programme in 2017 and now boasts of having thirteen goats and constantly supporting her children’s school needs.

“I have been on the SCTP list since 2017. My life and that of my children have tremendously changed from rags to riches,” said Magwaya.

Another beneficiary, Linda Salayi of Nsiyaludzu 1 village under iNkosi Makwangwala said besides using the money to buy food, she is able to pay school fees for her four children.

“Before enrolled in the Mtukula Pakhomo (SCTP), food shortages in my household was order of the day but now, things have positively changed,

Even my children were hardly going to school due to a lack of school fees and other school necessities,” said Salayi.

She added, “Currently I am buying iron sheets for my burnt brick house and all these are happening due to the SCTP.

Both Ivy Kanyemba from Masitimale village in the area of iNkosi Kwataine and Eunice Makina of Kadwala village, under iNkosi Ganya said they are able to support the daily needs of their children at school.

They said they have also constructed iron-sheet roofed houses and own livestock’s, all thanks to the social protection program.

SCTP Desk Officer for Ntcheu Catherine Ngoleka said they are happy to see that beneficiaries are investing their cash transfers in various life changing activities.

“The program has profound impact on education by increasing school enrollment.

“Further, many have joined village savings and loan groups to sustain their financial income hence enabling them to procure livestock’s and construct descent houses,” said Ngoleka.

Suffice to say, Ngoleka added that the use of electronic payment has helped the beneficiaries to have their transfers secured.

Meanwhile, Minister of Gender, Social Welfare and Community Development Jean Sendeza said the positive stories for Ntcheu are worth of celebrating as the country pushes for a self-reliant nation by the year 2063.

“Seeing beneficiaries owning descent houses and livestock’s among other achievements is key in the realization of the aspirations,” said Sendeza.

Sendeza added that the increase in the cash transfers from K9, 500 to K15,000 is an indication that the government understands the importance of the program to benefiting households.

SCTP is a government of Malawi owned program that began as a pilot in Mchinji district in 2006 targeting over 300,000 ultra-poor and labor-constrained households across the country.

In Ntcheu, the program is benefiting 14,534 households from 114 village clusters and the government is implementing the SCTP with support from the Multi Donor-Trust Fund.

The Multi Donor-_Trust Fund comprises of German, World Bank, Ireland, European Union, Iceland, USAID and FCDO.